Bracelet attachment



$915 1, 193%." j c. R. TOST v 1,768,868

BRACELET ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 24, 1929 I /Z yl/IIIIIIIIII/IIIIIIIIIIII /3 Patented July 1, 1930 CHARLES R. TOST, OF CENTER/DALE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE HADLEY COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF REIODE ISLAND BRACELET ATTACHMENT Application filed January 24, 1929. Serial No. 334,751.

This invention relates to extensible connectors for bracelets and the like, and pertainsmore particularly to improvementsin wrist watch straps having pivotally connected elements adapted to be folded together in overlapping relation to retain the strap upon the wrist, and to be unfolded and extended to permit the trap to pass over the hand of the wearer. The principal object if the invention is to provide, in association with one of the overlapping members of an extensible connection, an auxiliary connector plate mounted to slide lengthwise of said member when the connection is ex tended, to provide additional length and permit the useof shorter foldable connector plates. ()ther objects reside in the improved structural features of the device hereinafter described, as pointed out in the appended claims.

A recommended embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fi 1 is a top view of the improved bracelet connector in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3is a bottom view of the device in extended position;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of Fig. 3;

F 5 is enlarged side elevation of the connector showing the parts in an intermediate position; and 7 Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged sections taken on the lines 66 and 77 respectively of Fig. 3.

The extensible connection herein illustrat-ed is devised principally to connect a pair of wrist Watch strap sections 8 and 9 which may be made of any suitably flexible material such as leather, fabric, or metal links, but the invention may obviously be embodied in attachments forbracelets, belt straps or other desired article. The bracelet sections 8 and 9 may be attached to the free ends of the connecting member in any suitable manner, for example by passing the ends of the strap sections through slots 10 and 11 and securing them by appropriate fastening means.

The connecting elements preferably comprise a top or cover plate 12 having side walls 13, a connector plate 14 hinged at one end to an end of the cover plate, as by a pin 15, a second foldable plate 16 pivoted as by pin 17-to the opposite end of plate 14, and an end plate 18 mounted to slide lengthwise over the bottom face of plate 16. The sliding connection between plates 16 and 18 may comprise a pair of ears or flanges 19 formed integrally fiat the inner end of plate 18 and being bent over the side margins oft-plate 16 with a sliding fit; and the corners 20 at the outer end of plate 16 are preferably bent upwardlyto' furnish stops or abutments for the ears 19, thereby to limit outward sliding movement of plate 18 when the plates are extended (Fig. V 3

In the closed position of the device, plates 14 and 16 are folded in overlapping relation beneath the cover plate 12 and between the side walls 13 thereof, and the slidable plate 18 underlies the plate 16 (Fig. 5). Similar recesses or notches 21 are preferably provided in opposite sides of each of the plates 14, 16 and 18, and these notches are so arranged as to register with each other when the parts are in said closed position, and to receive opposed locking members formed. on

the inner sides of the walls 18, as by doubling over integral side tabs 22. Said looking members 22 not only secure the plate 18 against sliding along plate 16, but also serve as a frictional binder for holding the cover plate in closed position upon the connector plates- An extensible connector constructed in the manner'above described provides a compact, easily operated and attractive attachment for wrist Watches and the like which may be readily fastened to the ends of the bracelet section and which, when extended, affords ample length to permit the assembled bracelet to be passed over the hand of the wearer. It will be understood, however, that details of constructions may be varied to meet particular requirements without departing from the essence of this invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1; An extensible connector for wrist watch bracelets and the like comprising a cover the first connector plate, said plates being ada ted to swing into overlapping relation mt the second connector plate lowermost, an auxiliary connector plate having oppose side, flanges near its inner end bent over the lateral margins of said lowermost pivoted plate to support the auxiliary plate on the under side thereof for relative longitudinal sliding movement, the free outer corners of said lowermost pivoted plate being bent upwardly to furnish stop members engageable with said flanges to limit outward sliding movement of the auxiliary plate, the outer end of said slidable plate being adapted for attachment to another bracelet end.

2. An extensible connector for wrist watch bracelets and the like comprising a cover plate adapted for attachment to a bracelet end, a connector plate pivoted at one end to the cover plate, a second connector plate pivoted at one end to the opposite end of the first connector plate, said plates being adapted to swing into overlapping juxtaposition with the second connector plate lowermost, a slidable connector plate mounted on the under side of said lowermost pivoted plate for movement longitudinally thereof, means near the inner end of said slidable plate for supporting it in said slidable relation, means at the free end of the second connector plate constituting an abutment for the supporting means to limit outward movement of the slidable plate, the outer end of said slidable plate being adapted for attachment to another bracelet end, said slidable plate underlying said lower pivoted plate when the parts are in closed position, and interengaging portions at the sides of said connector plates and on the walls of said cover plate respectively for interlocking the connector plates against relative lengthwise movement when in said position.

3. An extensible connector for wrist watch bracelets and the like comprising a cover plate adapted for attachment to a bracelet end and having opposed side walls, a connector plate pivoted at one end to the cover plate, a second connector plate pivoted at one end to the opposite end of the first connector plate, said plates being adapted to swing into overlapping relation between said side walls with the second connector plate lowermost, an auxiliary connector plate having opposed side flanges near its inner end bent over the lateral margin of said lowermost pivoted plate to support the auxiliary plate on the under side thereof for relative longitudinal sliding movement, the free outer corners of said pivoted plate bea bent upwardly to furnish stop members (1 each of the connector plates having enga cable with said flanges to limit outwar sliding movement of the auxiliary late, the outer end of said slidable plate eing adapted for' attachment to another bracelet end, said slidable plate underlying said lower pivoted plate when the connector plates are folded into closed overlapping relation between the walls of the cover plate, similar recesses in their respective sides w ich register with each other in said position, and projections formed on the inner faces of the respective cover plate walls engaging said plate recesses to vinterlock the connector plates against relatively lengthwise movement when in said closed position.

Signed by me at Providence, Rhode Island, this 21st day of January, 1929.

CHARLES R. TOST. 

